Roman Wilson NFL Draft Overview
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 5′-10″
Weight: 186 pounds
School: Michigan
2024 NFL Draft: Roman Wilson Scouting Report
Roman Wilson has the potential to become a highly skilled player in the NFL, capable of winning at all three levels of the field. However, he is currently limited to playing in the slot position due to his physical frame and lack of play strength. When confronted by physical corners, Wilson tends to get erased from the play and is ineffective as a run blocker. Additionally, he has limited potential for yards after the catch.
On the plus side, Wilson has soft hands and rarely drops the ball. He is also excellent at catching the ball outside of his frame. Furthermore, Wilson is a skilled route runner with sharp cuts, agility, and speed. He has good zone awareness and can split safeties effectively. Despite his relatively small size, he is versatile and plays bigger than his frame.
However, Wilson’s weaknesses include limited versatility, poor play strength against press, and limited ability for yards after the catch. Nevertheless, thanks to his agility, footwork, and speed, he is expected to test well at the combine. It’s worth noting that he was underutilized during his time at Michigan.
Strengths
- He has soft hands and is a willing receiver over the middle. He rarely drops the ball and can make plays outside of his frame. He has natural hands that pluck the ball out of the air, and he finishes catches through contact;
- He excels at route running, with sharp cuts, agility, and speed to gain separation. He seamlessly changes gears with quick feet and mixes up the tempo and pace of his routes, making them a joy to watch;
- Teams must respect his speed as he tests out as a fast receiver with great burst early in the route;
- Roman Wilson has excellent zone awareness skills and can split safeties effectively;
- He is a versatile player with longer arms for his size, but he could add weight.
- Having experience in special teams can earn the trust of coaches and open up opportunities;
- Vs. 2024 Draft Wide Receivers (33): Pro Football Focus Receiving Grade 84.5 (7th), Yards Per Route Run 2.68 (12th), Average Depth Of Target 13.9 (9th).
Weaknesses
- Roman Wilson has low versatility. He is a slot-only weapon, and he doesn’t navigate traffic well;
- He’s a limited yards after the catch athlete. He doesn’t break many tackles;
- He needs to be more creative in selling routes and manipulating defenders. He is an agile athlete with potential for more subtle movements;
- Wilson is not physically imposing and tends to get rerouted by contact;
- Wilson needs better physicality and a better release package. He also lacks play strength when facing press coverage, making him easily erased from the game;
- Vs. 2024 Draft Wide Receivers (33): Yards After The Catch Per Reception 4.6 (27th), Target Dominator Percentage 18.6% (21st).
NFL Comparison: Christian Kirk
Team Fits With Need At Position: Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs
Projection: Round 3
Bottom Line on Roman Wilson
Wilson is a receiver who makes the most of his limited opportunities to catch the ball. He understands his role within the play design and uses his impressive speed to win routes and keep defenders guessing. He was arguably the best receiver at the Senior Bowl, demonstrating his separation skills and great hands.
However, Wilson’s smaller frame and lack of play strength could be problematic at the NFL level, which may limit him to a slot role. His release inefficiencies need to be worked on by coaches. His footwork affects his ability to get off the line of scrimmage and separate when faced with press coverage.
Overall, Wilson can create separation with his agility, footwork, and speed and has the athletic profile to succeed at all three levels. However, his smaller frame and lack of play strength restrict him to the slot and limit his potential after the catch. Wilson would be best suited as a WR3 early in his career as he adjusts to the NFL’s physicality.
Main Photo: Melanie Maxwell – USA Today Sports
